Forthcoming Lorain County pro soccer team seeks fan input on name, logo

Lorain's pro soccer team — planned to take to the pitch next May — is looking for fan input on its identity. It formally was announced Wednesday that a pro soccer team is planned to begin play in 2026 in the USL League Two. Team ownership also announced four possible names and logos for the team, asking fans to vote on which one they like best. Each identity is reflective of the character of Lorain County, says team chairman Andrew McDonnell of North Ridgeville. The names are: Lorain County Blast, with a logo of a soccer ball, fire and the outline of a steel mill, representative of the county's industrial history Lorain County FC (Football Club), with a logo of three brothers, each entwined in the county's identity: A steelworker, a farmer and a ship captain Lorain County Leviathan, paying homage to the county's lakefront and the stories of sea monsters within the Great Lakes. The logo also includes the Lorain Lighthouse Lorain County Quarrymen, noting the area's history as a source of limestone Voting is online at lorainusl2.com/vote, and runs through Dec. 1. "We want to be community based, and what better way to do so than to have the community pick the name?" McDonnell said. The team's home field will be the newly renamed ForeFront Stadium in Avon. Nick Turchan, who owns a USL2 team in Akron and is advising the Lorain County team in its setup, said that professional infrastructure like that of the Lorain County Crushers' home field is a key to recruiting players for the team. As home to a Frontier League team, the stadium has professional-level parking, concessions, facilities and broadcast capabilities. The team is building out its coaching and front office staff, Turchan said, and should be starting to sign players early next year. The team will have 30 on the roster, but typically dress 19 players for games. USL2 players are typically collegiate soccer players or those just out of college. McDonnell said there will be spots for local talent, which is abundant. He noted the Avon High School boys' recent state title in soccer. The team will have a brief spring training in May before starting a 12-game league season in the Great Forest Division of USL2's Central Conferences. Other teams are in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Akron, Toledo, Cleveland and Erie. The proximity of in-division teams is also a selling point in recruitment, McDonnell said. McDonnell said there might be a few "friendlies," nonleague contests with local teams, as well. The teams play once or twice weekly (league rules specify at least 72 hours between games) and the postseason would be a maximum of another six games. Contact Vince Guerrieri at vguerrieri@chroniclet.com or (440) 329-7124. Follow him on Twitter @vinceguerrieri.